गुणिर्गुणं वेत्ति

गुणिर्गुणं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्गुणः
बलिर्बलं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्बलः।
पिको वसन्तस्य गुणं न वायसः
करि च सिंहस्य बलं न मूषिकः॥
guṇirguṇaṁ vetti na vetti nirguṇaḥ
balirbalaṁ vetti na vetti nirbalaḥ |
piko vasantasya guṇaṁ na vāyasaḥ
kari ca siṁhasya balaṁ na mūṣikaḥ ||
The virtuous appreciate virtues but not the bad;
The strong appreciate strength but not the weak.
[just like] The cuckoo [which] feels the influence of the spring but not the crow;
[and] The elephant [that] values the strength of the lion but not the mouse.

अष्टौ गुणा पुरुषं दीपयन्ति

अष्टौ गुणा पुरुषं दीपयन्ति प्रज्ञा सुशीलत्वदमौ श्रुतं च।
पराक्रमश्चाबहुभाषिता च दानं यथाशक्ति कृतज्ञता च॥
aṣṭau guṇā puruṣaṁ dīpayanti prajñā suśīlatvadamau śrutaṁ ca|
parākramaścābahubhāṣitā ca dānaṁ yathāśakti kṛtajñatā ca||
Eight qualities adorn a man : Intellect, good character, self control, knowledge. Valour, not talking too much, being charitable as per his (financial) strength and gratitude.

[Thanks to Kedar]

[Posted on 20 SEP]

असतोऽपि भवति गुणवान्

असतोऽपि भवति गुणवान् सद्भ्योऽपि परं भवन्त्यसद्वृत्ताः।
पङ्कादुदेति कमलं क्रिमयः कमालादपि भवन्ति॥
asato'pi bhavati guṇavān sadbhyo'pi paraṁ bhavantyasadvṛttāḥ|
paṅkādudeti kamalaṁ krimayaḥ kamālādapi bhavanti||
A virtuous person may spring even from a bad source and one of bad conduct even from the virtuous. The (beautiful) lotus springs from (dirty) mud, but worms are seen to spring even from a lotus.

न विप्रियं वदत्यार्यः

अप्रियवचनाङ्गारैर्दग्धोऽपि न विप्रियं वदत्यार्यः।
किं दह्यमानमगरु स्वभावसुरभिं परित्यजति॥
apriyavacanāṅgārairdagdho'pi na vipriyaṁ vadatyāryaḥ|
kiṁ dahyamānamagaru svabhāvasurabhiṁ parityajati||
"A man of culture does not speak unpleasantly though burnt by the burning coals of displeasing talk.
Does the fragrant aloe wood abandon its natural fragrance when being burnt?"

सर्वत्र देशे गुणवान् शोभते

सर्वत्र देशे गुणवान् शोभते प्रथितः नरः।
मणिः शीर्षे गले बाहौ यत्र कुत्रापि शोभते॥
sarvatra deśe guṇavān śobhate prathitaḥ naraḥ|
maṇiḥ śīrṣe gale bāhau yatra kutrāpi śobhate||

"A famous man with good qualities is considered an asset anywhere in the country.
[Just as] A gem looks beautiful when worn anywhere — on the head, in the neck or on the arm."

गुणवदगुणवद्वा कुर्वता

गुणवदगुणवद्वा कुर्वता कार्यमादौ
परिणतिरवधार्यां यत्नतः पण्डितेन।
अतिरभसकृतानां कर्मणानां विपत्तेः
भवति हृदयदाही शल्यतुल्यो विपाकः।
guṇavadaguṇavadvā kurvatā kāryamādau
pariṇatiravadhāryāṁ yatnataḥ paṇḍitena|
atirabhasakṛtānāṁ karmaṇānāṁ vipatteḥ
bhavati hṛdayadāhī śalyatulyo vipākaḥ|

"Before taking any action, whether good or bad,
wise men should carefully ponder over its consequences.
[Or else], the results of acts done in haste
keep piercing the heart like an arrow even after death."

कुपितोऽपि गुणायैव

कुपितोऽपि गुणायैव गुणवान् भवति ध्रुवम्।
स्वभावमधुरं क्षीरं क्वथितं हि रसोत्तरम्॥
kupito'pi guṇāyaiva guṇavān bhavati dhruvam|
svabhāvamadhuraṁ kṣīraṁ kvathitaṁ hi rasottaram||

"A man possessing good qualities surely serves only a good cause even when he gets angry;
Milk which is sweet by nature becomes all the more tasty when it is boiled."